The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-12
.MEsRIAlCK DlSASTER.
MOSr REMARK ABLE IN THE HIS.
,ORY OF MARINE MISHlPS.
The Horrible Behavior OF the
Drapken, Who Pillage In the
Aoment OF Danger.

HALIFAX, N. s, July 1.-THE story
Of the wreck Of the steamer Merrimack,
rs told by several passengers who ar
rived here tonight, 10 one OF the most
remarkable in the history OF marine
disasters. The people on the steamer
escaped q terrible fate after being
driven ashore on clear and cloudess
night, with the moon and stars Inning
brightly overhead, but according
to u cir own assertions their bag
gage was rified and . number Of ar
ticlss stolen, while the owners were
on deck seeking to save their lives.
The passengers declare II a. their con.
vistions that these depredstions were
committed by members Of the crew
who, Immediately after the ship struck
secured . considerable quantity Of
liquor, became drunk aud created .
disgraceiul disturbance. The facts
connected with the disaster ara 70.
lated % follows:
Nearly all the passengers we're sound
asleep, when suddenly about 1880
o'clock Saturday nigh, they were awak-
ened by q hall dozen shrill whistles
followed Immediately by several heavy
shocks and tearing, grinding sound, as
though the steamer wss forcing her
way over q rocky bottom. Capt.
Crowell, the pilot and two officers were
on deck when the steamer struck,
and, 90 far as learned, could give
no satisfactory reason why they
were 30 close to the cost.
The steamer was going at full
speed when she struck, and sheored oi
her way over the rocks for fully five
minutes. There we're q number oi
heavy shocks, and the We .el too yed
about 30 fearlully that those on dect
Dad to hold on for their lives or they
would have been dashed into the
water. By the time she came to stop
all on board were out OF their berths,
tho women and children being hud.
died together IN the cabin with terror
in their faces and sending forth
piercing screams for help. lndescrib'
able confusion and excitement pre-
vailed, but the effort OF q few men
succeeded In restoring partial calm.
ness, and the work OF launching the
boats was commenced. IL Was while
this scene Was being enacted that the
pillAging oil the passengers luggage
took place. State rooms were entered
vslises were tom or ilpped open, ano
any goods OF value we're removed
Jewelry clothing and other articles dis
appeared and when their owners, AZ
ter a.certsining that the vfrcl woult
20 down at once, went 10 their room
TO tccure their properly, they found 4
s'rewn on the floor In q prom,- ,uoul
manner, with the m ot valuable por
tion gone. Ons pH'ranger stat tha
he lost about GOO worn In this way
while numerour Others tell simila
storit-. AT the same time
number Of the crew became sudden
ly drunk vnd got into di1putCs, which
4 ended only vhcp they were compells
10 abandon q. &c amer In the boats
which had been launched by the ai,
Of other hand' There wsI some DE-
lay In getting the boa, sA,at, cause,
apparently by poor management, bu
eventually everybody wr1 safely 70
moved from the vessel. As has alreAd,
been stated, ths pr ;engeIs were al
safely landed, though there we're
number OF narrow escapes. Tn
passenger who arrived her
this afternoon, a travelled b
teams all last night and I'll day b.
day. Toe remainder Of the pr sen
gers are reported 10 have reached IN
main land today. The steamer Git
OF st. John will be dispatched 10 TAX
them 10 Yarmouth. They will b
sent from that place 10 Boston dIrec,
The wreck 4, believed 10 have beel
caused by q disordered compass,
statement 10 that effect having beei
made by the Merrimac's pilot.